The Cowboy Boot

Photo via plan59.com

Boss of the Plains is a phrase we all know so well. The type of cowboy hat manufactured by Stetson is a flat-brimmed headgear that features a straight crown. It also had round corners. According to historical accounts, Boss of the Plains was manufactured in 1865 and became quite a hit among cowboys despite the popularity of the bowler’s hat during those times.

Because of its lightness and its natural color, the hat with a four-inch crown gradually became the standard hat in the west. Since Stetsons are made from felt, they are also waterproof making it possible for the owner of the hat to use it like a pail.

It also had a plain hatband making it possible for the user of the hat to adjust the size. The sweatband, according to historical accounts, bore the name of Stetson. While Stetson only made one style of hat, Stetsons came in different qualities depending on the materials used for the hat. Regular hats with one-grade material were sold at $5 a piece while those that boasted pure beaver felt were sold at $30 at the time.

Although the bowler’s hat was quite popular in that era, J.B. Stetson marketed the Boss of the Plains and later on, the cowboy hat we fondly call the Stetson became an icon and a universal image of the West. This somehow built a reputation for the West, with its charisma and its taste for adventure. During the 19^th century and the early part of the 20^th century, hats were needed by every man. In fact, it was an indispensable item. This is where Stetson got the idea of focusing on making high quality and expensive hats since hats were considered as an investment for every working cowboy and a fashion statement for men who lived in the city.

Cowboy boots are riding boots that later on became rather popular among cowboys because of its sturdiness. Cowboy boots have a Cuban heel – a type of heel used by both men and women in olden times. This type of heel, experts believe, goes back to 9^th Century Persia giving it quite a history.

Modern cowboy boots are commonly made from cowhide but sometimes, bootmakers make them from exotic leather i.e. alligator, ostrich, lizard, snake and other skins. Apart from Cuban heels, cowboy boots also feature rounded to pointed toes and a high shaft. Unlike other riding boots, cowboy boots have no lacing. Although cowboy boots feature different toe shapes, the usual design is often narrowed bordering to pointy toed.
– Cowhide Ropers, are some of the most popular boots. –

There are 2 types of cowboy boots, one is the classic version more popularly known as the western cowboy boot, the other is classed as a roper. The western or classic style is characterized by a tall shaft reaching mid-calf. It also usually has an angled heel. The heel height usually reaches over an inch high. Sometimes some cowboy boots feature slightly lower heels called walking heels.

Considered as a newer design, the roper has a shorter shaft compared to the classic cowboy boots. Stopping above the ankle, this type of boots also feature squared-off heels. Ropers are usually used by those who join rodeo shows. The heels are just an inch high or even lower, have rounded toes and have laces. The lace-up style of these boots is to ensure that the ropers do not come off while riding a horse –in a rather wild manner. The safety of the rider is of course one of the main reasons why ropers have a lace-up design.

Both designs –the roper and the classic cowboy boot style are available in cowboy boot shops. They are also sold online.
Boot City has a very nice selection of Ostrich Skin Ropers available in the store and on the internet.

Attention ladies! This one’s for you. If you love cowboy boots and love Lucchese, you will surely fall in love with the Charlie 1 Horse collection specifically the fashion boots items from the brand.

One of our favorites for this season is this beautiful stiletto boots in black made from calf leather. It has a height of 13” and very nice stiletto heels.

If you want something in scarlet however, this uber beautiful stiletto boots from Lucchese is something you should take a look at. The item number for this one is l4681 and it is definitely one of the best designs coming from the Charlie 1 Horse collection.

The first two boots featured in this article are great for either casual or formal fashion. If you have a rather strict workplace that requires you to wear formal work clothes, you can wear these under your trousers. If you are looking for something more rugged however, there are quite a few Charlie 1 Horse boots in Lucchese’s online catalog that you might want to take a look at.

This fashion cowboy boot from Lucchese with item number l4786 is made from calf and has a beautiful golden tan embellishment. The height is 12” and is available in 6-10 B sizes. Made from calf leather, these fashion triad lazer slouch boots are definitely a wonderful choice. We truly love this one because of its very unique design. As for the price, it would be best to go to the official website of Lucchese to check it out.

Do not worry though because even if Lucchese is a known name when it comes to boots, the prices are not over the top. They are still quite affordable considering that they are made from premium materials and are quite sturdy too. So what are you waiting for? Get these boots today at BootCity.com

Photos via Lucchese.com

If you want to know more about your ropers, you may want to take a look at the history of riding boots. Being a big part of equestrian life, riding boots have been around for centuries and up until the industrial age, riding boots and classic boots for that matter were individually handmade. They were of course in many other styles apart from the 2 styles of boots we know of today. Early cowboy boots, according to history, along with their accoutrements, were influenced by the Spanish vaquero that dates back to the early part of the 16^th century. Another influence of riding boots includes military boots used by the cavalries.

The vaquero or its Portuguese counterpart the vaqueiro is a livestock herder mounted on a horse. This tradition goes back to the Iberian peninsula. One has to take into consideration however that the vaquero tradition also developed in Mexico being a Spanish colony. The Spanish and Mexican vaquero proved to be quite an influence in the Old West.

According to history, cattle herders from Mexico traveling with Jesuit priest Eusebio Kino in the year 1687 travelled to California, bringing with them the vaquero tradition.

More expeditions were done, another one in 1769 and then in 1774. The latter is called the Juan de Anza expedition. The men who joined the expedition became the first ever cowboys in the area. Today, the vaquero tradition is also known as a Texas tradition. Another term that is associated with this tradition is the buckaroo which according to history is considered a corruption of the vaquero.

When the vaqueros have already influenced the people in the region with their cattle herding tradition, riding boots were used by most men in the area. During the industrial revolution, riding boots were already mass produced. Further developments were done years before of course and by that time, mass produced boots were already called Wellingtons.

What is a Buckaroo?

We always hear this term but where does it come from? Does it have anything to do with cowboy boots? The answer to that last question is yes. In fact, it has something to do with the vaquero tradition adapted by the west through cowboys coming from Mexico. These cowboys however also got the tradition from another source –their colonial master Spain.

Photo via NationalGeographic.com

Vaquero tradition in Spanish or Vaqueiro in Portuguese is a tradition pertaining to men on horseback who drive cattle. This cattle herding tradition goes as far back as the Iberian Peninsula. In the northern Americas on the other hand, this tradition dates back to the 1600s.

According to history and various dictionaries, the term buckaroo is a bastardization of the term vaquero. Much like its Spanish version, the meaning of the word is the same –herder of cattle. Vaquero is derived from the word vaca which means cow. Vaca of course comes from the Latin word vacca. Although the word “buckaroo” is pronounced differently, its phonological characteristics are almost the same as the oral transmission of Vaquero. Try saying these two words one after the other and you will realize what I mean.

Since no one wants to admit that the term buckaroo is a corruption of Spain’s vaquero, some authors insist that the derivation of the term comes from the Efik mbakara which means, according to these sources, white man or master. Another derivation as suggested by other authors come from baqar, an Arabic term that means cattle.

Whichever the case, a buckaroo is a Great Basin cowboy that herds cattle. Other regions such as California also had buckaroos for a certain time. And you got that right, buckaroos also wear cowboy boots although they weren’t called cowboy boots yet at the time.

In the Great Basin and in California, the buckaroo or the vaquero were the very first cowboys.

In the 1860s, Wellingtons were quite popular. The first ever mass produced boots were not only sturdy, they were also very affordable making them a favorite among those who lived in the west.

From 1886 to 1884 also known as the cattle drive era, the regular cowboy never wanted to ruin a good pair of cowboy boots while working. Their dress boots were only worn during special occasions or when going into town to meet friends. Some cowboys at the time owned very decorative dress boots and these boots, much like the regular dress boots of other cowboys were only worn when the cowboy went to town.

The basic elements of dress boots were integrated in working boots over the years making the trusty Wellington obsolete. This development also gave birth to different bootmaking companies that are still popular today.

If one refers to fashion magazines during the 1850s to the 1860s, cowboy boots with topstitching were featured. Some of these boots also featured natural elements integrated as a design.

The American-style boot we now know today were later taken up by the best bootmakers in areas where cattle ranching was a way of life. These areas included the states of Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. According to history, 2 of the most well-known bootmakers of the time were Charles Hyer of the Hyer Brothers Boots –a small company located in Olathe, Kansas and H.J. Justin of the infamous Justin Boots who headquartered in Spanish Fort, Texas.

Justin however moved to Nocona and other bootmakers went to the place to take advantage of the number of people going there, a new brand came out. The Nocona brand was started by the eldest daughter of Joe Justin, Enid Justin Stelzer who chose to live in Nocona with her husband.

The couple went through a divorce though that’s why Stelzer started the Olsen-Stelzer brand.

Wearing a broad-brimmed hat complete with a high crown goes as far back as the 13^th century when Mongolian horsemen wore them. The reason for these hats to have tall crowns according to cowboy hat enthusiasts is that it provided insulation for the wearer’s head. The wide brim on the other hand functioned as a shade. In hot, sunny climates such as Mexico for example, broad-brimmed hats are quite useful. The sombrero worn by Mexican horsemen of old is one good example.

Photo Via saywhydoi.com

Historical accounts on when the cowboy hat was invented are actually debatable and according to experts, it is not even clear when this type of hat started to be called a cowboy hat. It is interesting to note that Westerners did not really have a standardized headwear. In fact, people who moved to the western part of the United States wore different types of hats. This includes top hats, remains of Civil War headgears, derbies and sailor hats among others.

Contrary to what many people believe, it was the bowler who won the hearts of the people from the west and not the beloved cowboy hat. The bowler’s popularity prompted American author, gourmand and photographer Lucius Beebe to call the bowler’s hat as “the hat that won the West”. The cowboys of old who took care of farm animals and of crops in that part of America already wore broad-brimmed hats to protect themselves from the heat of the sun. These hats like the modern cowboy hat we are so familiar with also had high crowns. Although no one knows who really invented the cowboy hat, credit still goes to John Batterson Stetson who made the Boss of the Plains in 1865.

The water proof hat became an instant hit in the west. Apart from this feature, cowboys also loved the fact that they were lightweight and were easy to adjust depending on the size of the user’s head.

Photo Via Nine West

If you are thinking of getting a pair of boots from Nine West, you might want to take a look at the Nine West Cornflower Cowboy Boots. This pair of brown boots is made from genuine leather and suede making the boots rather comfortable. Nine West is known for selling very comfortable shoes and very sturdy ones too.

Sold at 6PM.com for a mere $90.30, you can finally have a sturdy pair of boots from Nine West. Those who collect boots on the other hand might not want to buy this pair but if you are on a budget, getting your hands on the Nine West Cornflower Cowboy Boots in brown is definitely a good buy. The shoes from the brand usually last for a long time too making this pair of boots a wonderful choice for the thrifty.

These rugged boots have adjustable buckles and feature man-made lining too. The cushioned lining makes the whole Nine West cowboy boots experience a lot better because the foot bed is quite soft.

If in the middle of this article you have already gone to 6PM and did not see this pair of boots, it is possible that it’s already sold out. You can try Zappos or Amazon who sell the boots at much higher prices. By higher we mean at around $109 to $129 still a lot less compared to handmade boots.

Here the specifications of these boots:

Heel Height is at 1 and ¼ inch, shaft is 7 and a half, circumference is at 13 inches and the weight is 13 ounces.

If you are interested in these boots, you may go to the Nine West store. You may also want to look for Nine West coupons online.

There are other Nine West boots too and this includes the Nine West Nettle Women’s Knee-High Boots sold at $129.50 and the Nine West Vermillion sold at $149.00.